Device for producing electric-light display effects



W. E" PRICE July 2, 19 29.

DEVICE FOR PRODUCING ELECTRIC LIGHT DISPLAY EFFECTS Filed March 6, 192

6 2 Sheets-Sheet l mm m m m5 m m M y 2, 1929- w. E. PRICE I 1.719.622

DEVICE FOR PRODUCING ELECTRIC LIGHT DISPLAY EFFECTS Filed March 6, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR William E. B ice g i ATTORNEY Patented July 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM E. PRICE, OF WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK.

DEVICE FOR PRODUCING ELECTRIC-LIGHT DISPLAY EFFECTS.

Application filed March 6,1926. Serial No. 92,839.

This invention relates to devices for pro ducing electric light display cfiects.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved means for producing an electric lighting effect to simulate burning logs in a fireplace or campfire, fuel in coal grates, or other like scenic or decorative devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electric lighting display device of the character described which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture, simple to operate, adapted to readily form artistic and decorative displays or furnishings, and practical and eflicient to a high degree for the purposes described.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.- i

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the device embodying the invention, arranged to simulate a pile of glowing logs in a fireplace;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1';

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the apparatus for producing the improved electric light burning, glowing and flickering display effects removed from the log pile shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. t is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the prong means for retaining the light coloring screen to the frame.

Referring in detail to the drawing, in the embodiment of the invention there shown,

10 denotes a fireplace, in which is set a hollow body 11 comprising a structure simulating one or a group of logs constructed of metal, papier-mach, or of any other suitable opaque material, in any Well understood manner, and painted or otherwise decorated to resemble a burning fire log or logs.

An apparatus 12 for producing the electric light burning, glowing. and flickering display eflects is enclosed within said body 11 $9 1 0 be entirely conc l d th y The apparatus 12 may comprise a base 13 on which is mounted an electric motor 14, preferably, one having a backer reduction gearing incorporated therewith, as indicated at 1 but not shown in detail, to provide a relatively slow speed for a drive shaft 15 thereof. Secured to rotate with said shaft is a coupling means 16 and a cylindrical hollow casing 17, said means being secured to the bazse 17 inaxial alignment with said casing 1 As seen from Fig. 3, the motor 14 and the attached cylindrical casing 17 occupy the mid-portion of the base 13 and a frame 18 is mounted on said base to extend over said motor and casing, said frame'being detachably secured to the base by any suitable means such as hinged fasteners 19. The frame 18 is provided with an end wall 15V adjacent the free end of the cylinder, and mounted on said wall 18 there is an electric lamp socket 20 carrying a bulb 21 which extends into the cylindrical casing 17. The bulb 21 and motor 14 may be supplied with power from any suitable source (not shown) through conductor wires 22 which pass through an opening 13 formed in the base 13. The casing 17 may be of any suitable construction and is preferably formed of sheet metal having a plurality of irregularly shaped slots 17 formed in the cylindrical surface thereof to permit the passage of the light from the bulb E21 therethrough, the interior and outer surfaces of said cylinder being preferably .made with a glossy and high reflecting finish.

The front and topside of the frame 18 is shaped to conform to the contour of the body 11, as shown in Fig. 2, and is constructed to support a sheet 22 of translucent material preferably formed of glass.

The sheet 22* may form a continuous screen having incorporated therein suitable portions adapted to color the light projected therethrough to simulate the burning, glowing and flickering of a flame, or said sheet 22 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, may be formed of strips of translucent material and colored to give the fire effects described above. When strips are used instead of a single sheet, the frame 18 may be formed with a mesh wire bracing structure 18.

Rows of prongs 18 extending along the edges of the frame 18 are provided for re.-

taining the sheet 22am position. The front portion of the logbody structure 11 which extends over said sheet 222 i provided w th an irregularly shaped window opening 11 having a translucent screen member 23 which is preferably formed of a textile material such as China silk, said screen being coated on its exposed surface with a flutfy material 24: for imitating ashes and other burnt portions of a log. Another opening 11" may be provided in the member 11 facing the rear upstanding wall 10*" of the fireplace, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear.

In using the invention, the log 11 is set in the fireplace 10, and power supplied to the device 12 for operating the motor and lighting the bulb, The cylindrical casing 17 rotates with the driving shaft 15 of the motor and beams of light pass through the casing slots 17 and are projected through the sheet 22. These beams are effective to color the screen in the window opening 11 of the log and simulate burning, glowing and flickering flames. In a similar manner the light is projected through the rear portion of the sheet 22 and the opening 11 of the log structure to form a burning, glowing and flickering lighting efi'ect on the rear wall 10 of the fireplace,

As seen from Fig. 2, the cylindrical casing may be rotated clockwise, whereby the projected light beams passing through the easing slots 17 will appear to move upwardly on the screen member 23 and downwardly on the rear fireplace wall 10.

To amplify the flame effect, a mirror is mounted on the base 13 and secured by any suitable means, as the prong rimmed holder 31, to extend beneath the casing 17. The light beams projected on said mirror 30 are reflected upwardly. Some of the beams are seen on the screen member 23 mingled with the beams of directly projected light, and others are reflected through the log opening 11", appearing as flames shooting upwardly on said wall 10. j

t will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above inventionand as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a device for producing display effects of the character described, the combination with a hollow opaque body having a window opening and a screen in said opening, of means for projecting burning, glowing and flickering flame effects on said screen, said means including a light source within said opaque body, a slitted rotating cylinder about said light source and a means interposed between said cylinder and said screen for coloring light passing thru said cylinder, said means comprising strips of colored, translucent material.

2. In a luminous fireplace of the charace ter described, the combination with the rear wall of the fireplace and a hollow opaque body set in said fireplace, said body having a plurality of openings, at least one of which openings is provided with a screen, of means for producing burning, glowing and flick ering flame effects in said fireplace, said means comprising a light source within said body, a moving apertured member interposed between said opaque body, and means intcrposed between said moving body and said. openings for coloring light passing thru said apertured member, said means comprising a member having parallel adjacent strips of colored translucent material;

3. In a device for producing lighting display effects of the character described, the combination. with a hollow opaque body having an opening therein and a screen in said opening, said screen comprising a sheet of textile material covered with flutfy material simulating ashes, of means for producing burning, glowing and flickering flame effects on said screen, said means including a light source within said body, a slitted moving member interposed between said light sourceand said screen, means for reflecting light passing thru said moving member to said screen and means interposed between said moving member and said screen for coloring all of the light passing to said screen.

4. In a device for producing display effects of the character described, in combination, a hollow log-sin'iulating body having an opening therein and a screen in said opening, coated with material imitating burnt portions of a log, and means'for producing burning, glowing and flickering flame effects on said screen, said means including a light source in said body, a rotatable apertured cylinder about said light source, and means interposed between said cylinder and screen for coloring the light passing to the screen, said means comprising a plurality of strips of colored translucent material and a wire mesh backing supporting said strips.

5. In a device for producing burning, glowing and flickering flame eflects in a fireplace, in combination, a hollow opaque body simulating fuel, said body having an'opening therein and a screen in said opening, said screen simulating burnt portions of said fuel, a light source within said body, a moving apertured member about said body and a reflecting member adjacent said. moving memher for reflecting light to said screen.

6. I In a luminous fireplace of the character described, the combination with a back wall of the fireplace, of a log simulating body set in said fireplace, said body having a screened opening in the front thereof and an opening adjacent said back Wall, said screened opening imitating burnt portions of said log, a light source within said body and a moving apertured member within said body cutting the light rays from said source to said openings.

7. In a device for producing fireplace display efiects of the character described, the combination with the back wall of the fire lace, of a hollow opaque body set in said l -ireplace, said body having a plurality of openings, at least one of said openings being disposed adjacent said rear Wall and at least one of said openings facing the front of the fireplace, a screen in said last mentioned opening, and means for producing burning, lowing and flickering flame efiects in said fireplace, said means comprising a light source in said body, a moving apertured member about said light source, means for reflecting light to said openings, and means interposed between said light source and openings for coloring all of the light passing thru said openings.

8. In a luminous fireplace of the character described, the combination With the floor of the fireplace and a hollow log simulating body having a supporting base resting on said floor, said body having a screened opening therein, of means for producing a burning, glowing and flickering flame efl'ect in said fireplace, said means including a light source within said body, a moving apertured member about said light source, a reflecting plate mounted on the base of said body for reflecting light to said screened opening, and means for coloring all of the light passing to said screened opening.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature,

WVILLIAM E. PRICE. 

